The dark emptiness of space filled around the small asteroids, their icy surfaces glimmering thanks to their star millions of miles away. The outer rims of the system — like every system alike it — were devoid of action, simply boring chunks of rock that no longer held valuable minerals for the lifeforms of the present. Large holes dug deep through each of the large asteroids, twisting around into large caves and reaching to the other sides of the rock. Secluded. Forgotten about. A hideaway. A place no longer for mining, but for something more secret.
A small asteroid began approaching one of the larger rocks. Its movement not made by gravity but from an unnatural force guiding it forward. It approached one of the craters indented into the side of an ice-less gray mass, seemingly made of the same rock as every other mass near it.
Gasses began to spray out of the front, leaving an icy trail behind the mysterious object. The edges seemed to suck into place as the circumference of the crater it was entering extended slowly around its outside and held it in place tight. No rock could move like that. The large spacecraft welcomed the smaller one with open arms and as the doors began to open vertically, one human walked up along the cold hanger floor, ready to greet his guests.
Two pairs of large boots stomped forward towards the human. These individuals looked much different, as one was fully vuumea while the other was a hybrid, although his vuumean features were still quite prominent. The vuumean species were quite similar to the humans, however had a dark color along with scaly skin that fell under the human-identification as reptilian. They were also extremely flexible and although the species was bipedal, they didn't have arms like humans, but instead a large tail-like limb that sprouted from the lower spine and reached upward ending in a split. This "cri" was controlled similarly to any other limb, however the two split ends couldn't consciously be controlled — its only purpose was giving the Vuumeas heightened senses, making their species twice as physically gifted than humans.
In the case of hybrids, the DNA has always worked mysteriously. One vuumean scientist from thousands of years ago theorized that nature shouldn't have allowed it, however as the years gone by it somehow worked. The vuumean features tended to be dominant, with only 10% of known hybrids having all five functioning limbs.
The two men halted in front of the human, waiting for his greeting. The human bowed slightly with his arm behind his back under a long dark cloak. His long straight dark hair dropped below the sides of his face.
"I am pleasantly surprised to see you again so soon Somman." The human raised his head and took a quick glance towards the young hybrid, standing at six foot one. "Is this your top student then?"
"Don't sound so judgemental Kress," Somman replied quickly. His cri waved sharply behind him and pushed his student forward. "This one is much smarter than he seems. I'm surprised his failure for arms is still useful, he's probably the only one I know who can master Heom-che without the arm's full length."
Could probably outmatch any human too, this monster. Somman looked to the side of his student's face, his eyes narrowed, remembering the frightening speed at which he learned.
Kress stared the hyrbid in the eyes, before speaking again. "What's your name, son."
"Ronan Nechual, sir."
"Ronan." Kress paused. Strong name, and his eyes don't show an ounce of fear. He looked up from Ronan's eyes and noticed the scars on the side of the man's forehead. Must've angered Somman. "Have you killed before?"
Ronan looked to Somman's side curiously, his eyebrows scrunched in a slight worry for what his master is having him put through. He looked back toward the human, having sensed something dark brewing between the two old men.
"Not in reality, sir. What are your intentions from me?"
Kress raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. I guess his human side is more prominent than it seems. What a curious fellow. "Do you have any loyalties to the current administration of the House of Terra?"
"I'm not much for politics. Neither House interests me."
Kress simply nodded in reply. "What sort of payment would you like from me? I'm willing to go a long way to have you work for me from now on."
"From now on?" Somman answered before his student could. The back of his voice wavered in irritation. "What are you implying Kress?"
A slight smile formed across the human's face. His eyes shined, the situation before him playing out just as he had imagined.
"Exactly what it sounds like. I simply want to buy him off you."
"Sir, I don't-"
"You didn't mention this Kress!" Somman barked at the man, cutting Ronan off. Anger fueled his face, his cri lashing behind him. "I can't have Ronan working under a human! You're fully aware of what Vorka expects of me. I brought him here because you said-"
"-that I wanted to test him at my lab. Well, that was only partially true."
A humming sound came from behind Kress's back. In just a blink, the human appeared between Somman and Ronan, already holding up his right arm to Ronan's chest preventing any action from him, while a sharp metal came piercing towards Sommans neck. The vuumea's eyes widened at the frightening sight. His cri responded by getting ready to block the attack, however Kress was the speed of light. His left arm shot up with a precise grab at the split of the cri, shutting down Somman's attempt of a block. A spark shined from the needle that punctured the thick vuumean skin, drawing a drop of blood from the wound.
Coming from the back, underneath the dark cape Kress was wearing, was a glowing silvery metal limb, similar to that of a cri. It snaked upwards, ending in the sharp needle that had just punctured Somman's neck. The metal was split into parts like armor, where the joints between glowed a light blue magnetic energy that held this mysterious weapon together. This weapon was called a mensanct.
As the needle pulled itself out of Somman's neck, his body slumped forward, creating a large thud when his unconscious body hit the ground.
"I don't intend to attack you," Kress said calmly, still facing away from both men. His metal cri shifted upwards quickly to collide with the incoming mensanct in the form of a long sharp blade. The metal vibrated before shifting back into the form of two forearms.
Ronan held up his arms, prepared for any new surprise attacks. His eyes squinted in skepticism as he gave a deadly stare towards Kress. I wasn't expecting much from this human, but for him to move at those speeds, if I were to fight him I don't know who would come out on top.
"He's not dead."
His eyes shot open. "Why didn't you kill him?" Ronan responded.
Kress deactivated his mensanct while turning towards the cautious Ronan. The metal condensed and darkened, as it returned to the form of a sphere in Kress's hand.
"Did you want me to? I promise I won't harm you." A friendly smile took shape on his face, trying to appease the young warrior. "Judging by the scars and your cautious stance, he wasn't that important to you."
Ronan slowly lowered his arms, however kept his mensanct active. Curiosity took over his mind, mostly over who Kress was, but also about his offer. On the trip to the lab Somman hadn't mentioned any information about who Kress was, only saying if Ronan complied with him then Ronan's family would get a payment ten times as much as normal. It was an offer that piqued his interest, and he couldn't refuse the huge reward. However, now that it seems Somman didn't know this man's true plans it would probably be dangerous to try anything against Kress.
"If you didn't kill him, what do you plan to do with him?"
Kress gave a light chuckle before responding. "Truly interesting. I'll tell you, but first you must agree to work under me."
"What will you pay?"
"More wealth than you can imagine."
He's willing to pay me this much? Why? Ronan pondered for nearly a minute before responding in a flat voice. "What kind of work will I be doing?"
The friendly smile grew wider and more menacing as Kress's eyes sparkled once more. "You'll be my assassin."